A potrait of soft skill implication in teaching and learning

Abstract

Soft skills are the main skills possessed by a teacher and prospective teachers in order to be able to teach professionally. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of soft skills in teaching and learning based on science teachers' and prospective teachers’ perspectives. The number of respondents are 213 teachers from provinces in Indonesia. Participants consist of 105 science teachers and 108 prospective science teachers who enrolled in the Science Education department at tertiary institutions. This study employed survey methods to collect data and used descriptive statistics to analyze data. The results showed that most of the prospective science teachers’ believed 10 components of soft skills needed in science learning. The components are teamwork, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, research and inquiry, creativity, curiosity, information literacy, objectivity, and integrity. Meanwhile, most science teachers stated the most important soft skills needed in science teaching are communication, creativity, and critical thinking. The teachers assumed the functions of soft skills in teaching activities are to communicate with others, to manage students’ skills, to deliver quality teaching, career development, and to become a role model for students. In addition, the participant considered the beneficial soft skills for the pre-service teachers are to promote teachers’ achievement, improve character and personality, acquire skills needed in the labor market, and readiness to be a professional teacher. This study provides insight into the needs of teachers to acquire adequate soft skills in science teaching and learning.